Readers' Poll 2009

Our road warrior readers elect the best of the world's airports, airlines, and hotel chains

The twelfth annual business-travel survey couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. When better to take the pulse of business travelers than during an economic slowdown? And the results deliver some encouraging insights, as well as a few predictable ones: Compared with a year ago, 36 percent of our readers are booking less expensive hotels; 44 percent are spending more time shopping for lower fares; and more than 50 percent report that their companies have reduced the number of employees who hit the road. But that's only half the story. Yes, 43 percent have reduced business-travel spending–but 12 percent have increased it. And one-fifth believe that their spending will return to pre-recession levels in a year or less. In the following pages, we present the best business-travel experiences, as judged by the people who know them best. Plus, a selection of new accessories and gadgets–for efficiency and fun.

U.S. Airports

International Airports

U.S. Hotels

International Hotels

Transpacific Routes

Transatlantic Routes

U.S. Routes / Business & First Class

U.S. Routes / Single-class Service

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Methodology

The independent firm Inquisite asked readers of Condé Nast Traveler identified as business travelers to rate hotel chains, airports, and airlines excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor on a variety of criteria. Final scores–out of 100–represent the percentage of readers who rated a hotel chain, airport, or airline excellent or very good and are based on a required minimum number of responses. More than 1,700 surveys were completed, returned, and tabulated.